Publication:

Presentation of a cutaneous fistula due to mesh migration in a postoperative incisional hernia patient

Incisional hernias are a frequent complication after abdominal surgery, ranging from 5-20% and up to 30% in patients with risk factors. Currently, hernia repair with mesh placement is recommended because it helps tension-free closure; however, there are complications such as surgical site infection, seroma, recurrence, fistula and mesh migration. We present the case of a 42-year-old female patient with mesh migration into the abdominal cavity secondary to incisional hernia repair. After reintervention with mesh remove, the patient had a favorable evolution, without complications and was discharged 48 hours after surgery. Currently the gold standard for incisional hernia repair is tension-free with mesh placement, however, this is not safe since there are several complications ranging from surgical site infection to mesh migration; the mesh migration represents a low percentage and its treatment is always surgical, but we must individualize it with each patient. In this case, we present an infrequent complication of open repair with mesh placement of an incisional hernia; however, it should be considered in the postoperative follow-up.